Sabella’s D10 tidal turbine, deployed in June 2015 in the Passage du Fromveur, has started delivering its first kilowatt hours following the connection to the electricity grid at Ouessant Island on 5 November. Since its connection to the island in late September, a 2km long submarine cable has been transmitting the electricity from the tidal turbine to the coast.
The power was then thermally dissipated with resistors, until the system was grid-connected on 5 November. During this time, Sabella was performing operation tests and ERDF was preparing the island’s network to receive the power from the D10 turbine.
For now, the tidal turbine is feeding power at 50 kilowatts, which will gradually rise up to 100 kilowatts, so that Sabella and ERDF can analyze in detail the production and flow of electricity, and deliver it with no risk to the network of the island.
Sabella’s D10 tidal turbine is expected to cover some 15% of the island’s power demand. The company said it will, in partnership with Engie (former GDF SUEZ), set up two additional D15 tidal devices by 2019, aiming to cover over 50% of the island’s electricity needs.
